Varaschin Investigation – video released to identify witnesses

During the early morning hours of August 30, 2010, Sonia Varaschin, who was 42-years old at the time, was brutally murdered in her residence on Spring Street in Orangeville.

Since this date, a Multi-Jurisdictional Major Case Management (MCM) investigation, led by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), with the assistance of the Orangeville Police Service (OPS) continues to follow up on all information and tips received from the public.

Part of the investigation has been focusing on analyzing video evidence obtained by police from around the various crime scenes relating to this murder.

Investigators are releasing a surveillance video taken of a gazebo located in Alexandra Park off of Second St and First Ave. The park is situated behind the Orangeville Town Hall and is in an area very close to where Sonia’s vehicle was left in the early morning hours of August 30, 2010.

The video depicts two people in a gazebo prior to them walking away at about 5:58 am on August 30, 2010. Police would like to identify these individuals to speak with them.

The quality of this video is grainy but investigators are hopeful that these individuals will recognize themselves or that someone will be able to identify them and come forward to the police. These individuals are potential witnesses and are not suspects in this case. Anyone who recognizes these people are requested to contact the investigators immediately.

The Gazebo video link has also been uploaded to the OPP youtube page and the OPP is encouraging everyone to view the video and contact investigators with any information.

This investigation is continuing under the direction of Detective Inspector Shawn Glassford of the OPP CIB.

“It has been four years since Sonia Varaschin was brutally murdered and we continue to have a dedicated multi-jurisdictional investigative team actively working on her case.” – Detective Inspector Shawn Glassford, MCM Manager, OPP Criminal Investigation Branch.

“Our investigators are as committed to finding Sonia Varaschin’s killer today as we were when it began in 2010. We are determined to bring justice to Sonia and her family and to that end we will continue to follow up on all tips and leads we receive and are asking the public to continue provide information to our investigators. No tip is too small or insignificant in fact it could be the missing piece of the puzzle that we need to solve this case”, added Detective Inspector Glassford.

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Orangeville Police Service Tip Line at (519) 941-2522, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 if you wish to remain anonymous.